College Town. City Life.

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UMKC’s weekly arts, sports and culture roundup

Each week, the University of Missouri-Kansas City offers an array of on-campus activities. It’s nothing new. UMKC has a long legacy of hosting countless culturally enriching events. These activities are part of what give UMKC a vibrant campus life, and make UMKC an arts and culture powerhouse. The influence of UMKC-based and UMKC-trained alumni extends well beyond the campus’ edge, so their activities are listed here as well.

Featured Event:

What: UMKC Women’s Basketball vs Chicago State
It’s Senior Day. Join UMKC Women’s Basketball as they celebrate the careers of current seniors with pre-game honors. They are calling on all ‘Roo fans to pack Swinney Recreation Center as Senior Day will conclude the 2015-16 home season.
Where: Swinney Recreation Center, 5030 Holmes, St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 2 p.m., Saturday, March 5
Current UMKC students receive free admission to all UMKC athletic events with ID. Children ages 5 and under receive free admission for all home games. Single tickets start at $7 each. To purchase tickets, visit the website.

March 3 – 8

What: Medea
UMKC Theatre undergraduate actors and MFA designers present a new production, Medea, adapted and directed by Joshua Kahan Brody. The play addresses the issue of the road to hell being paved with “if-onlys.” It’s easy to stand on the outside and judge. It’s easy to look in and say “what a monster, how could she?” But ordinary people do unthinkable things under the right, or wrong, circumstances. The artists lay bare the apparatus of cruelty and catharsis in this contemporary and condensed version of Medea, asking the question: When all is lost, what’s a woman to do? Medea is the timeless Greek tragedy of one woman’s struggle to take charge of her life in a male-dominated world.
Where: Room 116 of the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through March 12
Tickets can be purchased from the Central Ticket Office online.

What: Tomás and the Library Lady
In this inspiring true tale of how reading and stories help us all escape, young Tomás Rivera and his family are migrant workers who pick farmers’ crops. It’s hard work. It’s even rougher for Tomás because the family moves constantly to find new crops. But one summer, Tomás visits the library. He discovers worlds filled with dinosaurs and tigers, and a great new friend. This play is from the book by Pat Mora, adapted by José Cruz González and directed by Shanara Gabrielle.
Where: The Coterie, Crown Center, Suite 144, 2450 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through March 18
UMKC Connection: Two UMKC graduate theatre students founded the Coterie.
For tickets and show times, visit the website.

What: Roof of the World
Both a spy adventure story and a drama of a British family caught in a political crisis, Roof is a sweeping romance that takes place on two continents during Queen Victoria’s rule. The action follows a young British explorer and an Indian spy in disguise as they travel into the uncharted territory of what is now Afghanistan. Their story unfolds amidst “The Great Game” — the race between England and Russia to map the Pamir Mountains to gain control of much of Asia. Daring escapes and fights, blossoming secret love and the transformation of a rich Victorian family put at odds with the British Empire will keep your heart racing until its final moments.
Where: Copagen Stage, 1 H&R Block Way, Kansas City, Mo.
When:
Now through March 27
Tickets are available from the Kansas City Repertory Theatre online or by calling 816-235-2700.

What: Over The Moon
In this hilarious comedy, two fading stars of the 1950s are playing a comedy and a drama in rotation in Buffalo, New York. On the brink of a disastrous split-up, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at regaining their stardom. One perfect performance is all they need. Unfortunately, everything that could go wrong does go wrong and no one on stage knows if they’re in the drama or the comedy.
Where: The New Theatre Restaurant, 9299 Foster St., Overland Park, Kan.
When:
Now through April 24
For tickets and show times, visit the website.
UMKC Connection: Co-owners Dennis Hennessy and Richard Carrothers are both UMKC graduates and both were presented with honorary doctorates by the UMKC College of Arts and Sciences in 2012.

What: Musica Nova
Musica Nova performs contemporary works and features special guest composer Tania León. It is directed by Zhou Long. This program is supported in part through a grant from the Patricia and Howard Barr Institute for American Composition Studies at UMKC. Performance pieces include León: Indigena, León: Tumbão, Rzewski: Steptangle, San Martin: “Tangozilla” from Dances for Solo Piano, Mobberley: The Unpurged Images of the Day, Ginastera: Pampeana No. 2, Op. 21 and Stucky: Meditation and Dance.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When:
7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 3

What: Clark Stewart, Master’s Recital
This is a master’s recital for Clark Stewart, horn; with Kelly Hackleman, piano and Yee Ling Elaine Ng, violin. Performance pieces include Buyanovsky: Sonata for Solo Horn, Hlobil: Sonata for Horn and Piano, Op. 21; and Brahms: Trio for Violin, Horn, and Piano in E-flat Major, Op. 40.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When:
7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 3, 2016

What: Laura Zitelli, Master’s Recital
This is a master’s recital for Laura Zitelli, clarinet; with Patricia Higdon, piano; Sean Sweeden, snare drum; and Trevor Stewart, clarinet. Performance pieces include Nielsen: Konzert für Klarinette, FS 129/Op. 57, Horovitz: Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano, Sierra: Cinco bocetos and
Mendelssohn: Konzertstücke in D Minor, Op. 114, No. 2.
Where: Trinity Lutheran Church, 5601 W. 62nd St., Mission, Kan.
When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 3
It’s free.

What: Carol Oja, musicologist, Barr Institute Scholar Laureate Guest Lecture
Carol Oja, professor of musicology at Harvard University and the Conservatory’s Barr Institute Scholar Laureate, presents a guest lecture on the topic “Race and Performance during WWII.” This program is supported in part through a grant from the Patricia and Howard Barr Institute for American Composition Studies at UMKC.
Where: Room 121, Miller Nichols Library, 800 E 51st St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Friday, March 4
It’s free.

What: Tania León, Guest Talk
Composer-conductor Tania León presents a guest talk. Ms. León is Distinguished Professor at City University of New York and artistic director of Composers Now. This program is supported in part through a grant from the Patricia and Howard Barr Institute for American Composition Studies at UMKC.
Where: Room 521, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 3 p.m., Friday, March 4
It’s free.

What: UMKC Men’s Tennis vs Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Where: KC Racquet Club, 6501 Frontage Rd., Merriam, Kan.
When:  3 p.m., Friday, March 4
It’s free.

What: UMKC Women’s Softball vs Missouri State
Where: 3 & 2 Complex, 9600 Blue River Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
When:
3 p.m., Friday, March 4
Current UMKC students receive free admission to all UMKC athletic events with ID. Tickets start at $5. To purchase tickets, visit the website.

What: UMKC Women’s Softball vs Northern Illinois
Where: 3 & 2 Complex, 9600 Blue River Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Friday, March 4
Current UMKC students receive free admission to all UMKC athletic events with ID. Tickets start at $5. To purchase tickets, visit the website.

What: Kowoon Lee, Doctoral Recital
This is a doctoral recital for Kowoon Lee, piano; with Charles Dickinson, piano. Performance pieces include Mozart: Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475; Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Minor, K. 457; and Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Saturday, March 5
It’s free.

What: College Music Society: 35th Great Plains Regional Chapter Conference Concert
This concert features music composed by CMS members at the 35th Great Plains Regional Conference. Performance pieces include Simpson: Pain Meds, Rito: Amok, Mertl: A Seeker’s Song, Hannon: Two Lost Loves, A. F.-T. Wang: Antares Falling, Morel: Shaded Rhythms, Lombardi: Segue, Polaczyk: Covers for Piano, Wang A. Mao: Returning Home and C.T. (P.) Chan: Thread.
Where: Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 5
It’s free.

What: UMKC Women’s Softball vs Southwest Missouri State
Where: 3 & 2 Complex, 9600 Blue River Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
When:10 a.m., Sunday, March 6
Current UMKC students receive free admission to all UMKC athletic events with ID. Tickets start at $5. To purchase tickets, visit the website.

What: Design Speaks 2016: Alistair Tutton, Photographer and Designer
Alistair Tutton has been photographing commercial, residential and corporate interior and exterior architecture since 2000. He has photographed locations throughout North America and England and has shot for a variety of architects, interior designers, retail designers, contractors, advertising agencies and magazines. He is internationally known for his exceptional architecture, food, people and product photography, for a wide range of national architecture, corporate, advertising and editorial clients. This is a part of the 2015-2016 Visiting Artist & Scholar Lecture Series. It is free and open to the public.
Where: Vox Theatre Studios, 1405 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, Kan.
When: 4:30 p.m., Monday, March 7
It’s free.

What: NCECA Exhibition
The UMKC Gallery of Art will host two exhibitions as a part of the 2016 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference. Now in its 50th year, NCECA promotes and improves the ceramic arts through education, community building, research and creative inspiration. Each exhibition features talented ceramics artists whose work challenges the boundaries regarding how ceramics are created and how they inform us.
Where: UMKC Gallery of Art, 204 Fine Arts Building, 5015 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 5 p.m., Monday, March 7
It’s free.

What: Makers Curate/Curators Make
This exhibition highlights the challenges and the creative parallels between curating and artistic production. Six distinguished people in all fields of artistic production came together with a shared concept, to demonstrate that whether making or curating, their work is visionary. Featured artists include Alex Kraft, Pam Luke, Anthony Merino, Sonie Joi Ruffin and Arzie Umali. It is co-sponsored by UMKC Department of Art & Art History, ArtsKC Regional Arts Council and National Council for Educators in the Ceramic Arts.
Where: UMKC Gallery of Art, 204 Fine Arts Building, 5015 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 6 p.m., Monday, March 7

What: Cascade Quartet, Composer Reading Session
The Cascade Quartet reads student composers’ new music for string quartet.
Where: Room 521, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Tuesday, March 8
It’s free.

What: The Goldenberg Duo Concert
The Goldenberg Duo will perform a special concert of classical music with Susan Goldenberg, violin; and William Goldenberg, piano. Susan is a violinist with the Kansas City Symphony. William is chair of the Piano Department and Director of the Collaborative Piano Program at Northern Illinois University. This event is co-sponsored by the Alliance Française de Kansas City.
Where: Grant Hall, 5227 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 – 9 p.m., Tuesday, March 8
It’s free.

What: Christopher Janwong McKiggan, Alumnus Recital
This is an alumnus recital featuring Christopher Janwong McKiggan, piano. The recital will showcase the commissioned works from McKiggan’s “Resonance of Hope” project, as well as two works by UMKC Conservatory composers Narong Prancharoen (alumnus) and James Mobberley (faculty). Performance pieces include Nazaykinskaya: A Glimpse of Hope, Wang Jie: Sonata for the Other Shore, Kim: Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Palej: For All That We Have Lost, Motohide: For Jasmine Flowers, Southard: Sound of Cowbell, Prangcharoen: Pact Ink and Mobberley: Phenomenon.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 8
It’s free.

What: ArtSounds: Blackbird
This collaboration includes film by Caitlin Horsmon, choreography by Gary Abbot and original music composed by Mara Gibson. It is inspired by Wallace Steven’s “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.” The Cascade Quartet, from the Great Falls Symphony in Montana, premiered the work in January.
Where: Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7:30 – 9 p.m., Tuesday, March 8
It’s free.


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